Comparing the comparison services/MoneySavingExpert.com Discussion

kitchnv

Still looking to switch Electricity and becoming more and more frustrated with the comparison sites.

Energyhelpline recommended BG online said 1st 225 units at 11.386
UKPower also recommended BG but said the first 900 units were at 11.386
That's one hell of a difference. £25.61 and £102.47

Surely they should be getting this information correct.

Then went onto USWITCH and they didn't even mention BG in the results!

Seems they are a very rough guide.

Neil.

lasitha

Uswitch.com and Energyhelpline.com are both showing old prices for NPower. Even Npower web sites is showing old prices. Is there another site that shows new prices (from 1 April)?. Even Npower customer services don't have new rates.

matto

The rates on all the above are correct but are only available to new customers.

lasitha

These are the prices I am paying at the moment. So does it mean if someone signs-up today, their prices won't go up tomorrow?. I thought the 1 April increase was for new and existing customers.

matto

If you joined online after 17 February then you should not see any increase.

ecuyetx

I thought EneryHelpLine was supposed to be all encompassing, but when I have used the other sites they come up with other options.
Scottish Power comes up as cheaper on both USwitch, UK Power and Save on your Bills, while all I seem to get from EnergyHelpLine is London Energy and sticking with British gass and adding their electricity.
Are the other sites lying or is EnergyHelpLine missing some of the providers?

Curry_Queen

kitchnv wrote:

Still looking to switch Electricity and becoming more and more frustrated with the comparison sites.

Energyhelpline recommended BG online said 1st 225 units at 11.386
UKPower also recommended BG but said the first 900 units were at 11.386
That's one hell of a difference. £25.61 and £102.47

Surely they should be getting this information correct.

The information they provide is correct, it's just that one site calculates the rates per annum (900 units) whilst the other is per quarter (225 units) which I believe is actually stated somewhere on there.

Capyboppy

Glad I found this thread, saves repeating what others have discovered. I too have been looking at the comparision sites, both for dual fuel and individual tariffs. I am currently with Scottish Power until March next year, but wanted to see and check as I do periodically at other options. Like others there seems to be a variation on what is supposed to be the best companies, and some of them including SP are not listed at all, so it leaves you that you don't know what to believe and if it is worth changing. Even if I wait until the end of the capped rate I presume all these comparison sites will still be different. One says I will save £34 a year, another says £99 a year, both are supposed to be with npower on duel fuel. Although if I want to save an extra £5 something to take my gas from Equigas. Don't Equigas do it on how many people are using them, then divide?

Just as an add on, wasn't sure whether Martin would mention this, or if I should have started another thread; In the Mail on Sunday today there was an article on funding for new pipes and storage depots, which would lead to a glut of gas and prices should come tumbling down. End result is capped rates could not be any good, especially if you are tied in to them. Expected date is 07/08. If this is the case it is good news, but one can never tell.

rubix_76

matto wrote:

Unfortunately you'll probably find that you are paying a different rate to that used by the comparison sites.

The rate quoted by the comparison sites is Sign Online 4 which was introduced in February for new customers only. The prices for gas are 3.165p & 1.691p and electric is around 14p and 7p.

Just checked today and on the NPower website their rates are given as 9.49p per kWh for the first 728 kWh then going to 4.7p above 728. (I was registering as a new customer from BG)

Where did you get your figures from Matto, they are very different.

I am also wondering, is it better to go direct to NPower and get £60 per year (paid at the end of the year) extra saving compared to £12.50 cash back which incidentally I found no info on the energy-helpline website ?

Rubix

P.S. Happy Birthday to me !!!

rubix_76

Curry_Queen wrote:

The information they provide is correct, it's just that one site calculates the rates per annum (900 units) whilst the other is per quarter (225 units) which I believe is actually stated somewhere on there.

Correct my calculations if I am wrong, but if (as most people do) use less elec and gas in the summer, you will pay more for those bills if they are calculated quaterly (like BG) on a two tier system, than if it is calc'd annually ?

Just realised, BG calculate rates quaterly NPower do it annually, this will surely make a difference.

Now I have said that I need to play with some figures on excel as I'm not sure.

Edit:
Now tried some figures on excel, and it is the same, you were right curry queen. My 2p worth given, and then swiftly taken back so I can re-do my GCSE maths !!!

Rubix.